Science Buddies: "Ask an Expert"

I am a high school student, and I am thinking of testing antioxidant properties of certain compounds. However, I found that two chemicals, DPPH and linoleic acid, are hazardous in high concentrations (a breathing apparatus was recommended). Can anyone comment on the safety of these in smaller concentrations, or provide other recommendations?

Out of my area of expertise (any chemists, please chime in), but this is what I found by doing a google search for MSDS (Material Safety Data Sheet) for Linoleic Acid:

http://physchem.ox.ac.uk/MSDS/LI/linoleic_acid.html

The site says that personal protection is not necessary for it.

For DPPH (which I'm assuming you mean 2,2-Di(4-tert-octylphenyl)-1-picrylhydrazyl), the MSDS states that it may cause eye and skin irritation, and that it is harmful if inhaled or absorbed by the skin:

http://caligula.bcs.deakin.edu.au/bcs_a ... drazyl.pdf

This MSDS suggests that you wear goggles, full suit, dust respirator, boots, gloves, and a self-contained breathing apparatus.
http://www.clinalfa.com/msds/English/300267English.pdf

This clearly looks inappropriate for use in a high school science project.

I'd look into a safer project.

Essential Oil Girl wrote:I am a high school student, and I am thinking of testing antioxidant properties of certain compounds. However, I found that two chemicals, DPPH and linoleic acid, are hazardous in high concentrations (a breathing apparatus was recommended). Can anyone comment on the safety of these in smaller concentrations, or provide other recommendations?

Could you provide more experimental detail? I don't understand why you need those chemicals, so I cannot offer any alternatives.


Thanks,
Louise

Hi Essential Oil Girl!

If you supply "linoleic acid" to answers.com, you'll get a wealth of resources.

I didn't find anything on DPPH.

In using answers.com (or any other search engine), note:

1. subtle wording changes may have a major impact on the result.
2. avoid sites that are just trying to sell you something. In answers.com, these are segregated under sponsored links, but may leak into web results.

Essential Oil Girl:

Do NOT GIVE UP HOPE. There is nothing wrong with using chemicals such as DPPH for your project AS LONG AS THEY ARE USED UNDER PROPER SUPERVISION AND WITH APPROPRIATE PRECAUTIONARY MEASURES.

I can provide more specific help if I know what you are trying to accomplish using these two chemicals.

I would suggest talking with a chemistry professor at a local community college/university about doing your project. They will probably be willing to supervise you and allow you to use their facilities if you can convince them that you have prepared and are serious about your project.

Also, if you are planning to compete in an ISEF affiliated fair, you will need to make sure to have a form 3, 1C, and 2 in addition to your regular forms.

I think that your project is totally approriate and completely doable, as long as it is done under the proper supervision and with the proper equipment.